Cotton tramper feed mechanism



Oct. 24, 1933.

F. E. DEMs 1,931,488

COTTON TRAMPER FEED MECHANISM Filed May 28, 193i 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR Frank E. P667115 ATTORNEYS Oct. 24, 1933.

F. E. DEEMS 1,931,488

COTTON TRAMPER F EED MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 28, 1932 INVENTOR Fran/ 1212621125 y W I AT zRNEYj I Patented 24, 193i v UNITED STATES 1,931,488 I 1 COTTON raA enR FEED MECHANISM Frank E. Deems, Birmingham, Ala., assignorto Continental Gin Company, a corporation of Delaware Application May 28, 1932.] Serial No. 14,155

12 Claims.

My invention relates to cotton presstrampers,v

of a feed means which shall be effective to sweep the bat of cotton into the press with an even distribution therein, and thereby avoid an undue concentration of cotton in any part of the press.

A further object of my invention-is to provide a feed mechanism for cotton trampers which shall be simple and rugged of construction, embodying a minimum of parts, and which shall embody an extensible feed paddle, together with means to raise the feed paddle vertically out of the path of the cotton in the lint slide, and means to project the feed paddle outwardly into thelint slide and move the cotton evenly'into the press.

A still furtherobject of my invention is to provide a feeder mechanism for cotton trainp'ers embodying an extensible feed paddle and simple lever mechanism operated'by the tramper ram, which is effective to raise the paddle vertically out of the path of the cotton in the lint slide, project the paddle outwardly from its raised position to engage the cotton in the lint slide and sweep it into the press box. My invention also contemplates the provision of means whereby the feed paddle is held against the side of the press box during the greater portion of both the down and the up stroke of the ram, thereby obviating the necessity of providing a separate lint shield. This design also provides a relatively quick up-v ward, outward, inward stroke of the feed paddle the cotton into thethe feed mechanism has usually consisted'in a revolving paddle positioned at the lower end of" the lint slide and adapted to be rotated during the up stroke of the ram to feed the cotton into the press. While such apparatus has served'its purpose more or less satisfactorily, unless care is taken in the operation an uneven distribution of the bat of cotton in the press is obtained. Efforts have been made to produce a feeder which would sweep the cotton into the press in predetermined charges, whereby to obtain more even distribution in the press box, but so far'as'Iam aware such efforts have not met withcommercial success. This has been due to the difficulty in designing a mechanism whereby the paddle may be lifted out of the way of cotton accumulated in the lint slide and caused to engage a bat ofcotton and sweep it into the press box, and also to the fact thatthe trajectory of the feed paddle'in "a to and fro movement in the lint slide results in an inevitable upward sweepof the cotton in the. slide with theoutwardmovement of the paddle, thereby disarranging the bat and producing uneven distribution. 5 i 1 6t These and other difficulties are overcome .by' reason of my invention, andla simpler, more sturdy structure afforded. In accordance with my invention, I provide an extensible feed paddle whichis telescopingly mounted in its supports, and which is raised vertically out of the path of the cotton in the lint slide and then swung up-. wardly' over the lint slide and released to move outwardly so as to engage the cottonin the slide and sweep it into the press box.

The paddle is lifted by engagement with an element movable with the tramper ram on its up stroke and is extended outwardlyand caused to be swept inwardly through a lever and guide mechanism actuated by the ram. At the endz of the feedstroke, a suitable guide means provided on the ramand coacting with the lever hold the paddle inposition to be'engaged and lifted by the ram on its succeeding upstroke to repeat the above cycle'of operation. a

Apparatus embodying features of my invention is shown in the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application, in which Figure 1 is a front elevation of a bodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a cross section taken along the line 11-11 of Figure 1; I

Figure 3 is a cross section taken along line 111 -111 ofFigure 1; and r 3 Figure 4 is afragmentary sectional plan taken along the line IV-IV of Figure 1.

Referring now to the drawings for a better understanding of my invention, I show a, press box 10 having an opening 11 in the side thereof. Leading to the opening 11 is a lint slide 12 which receives" the lint cotton from-a condenser 111-. dicatedat 13. Mountedtoreciprocate vertically in the press box 10 is a ram 14. The means for. reciprocating the ram is not shown, inasmuch as it forms no part of my present, invention and is well known and understood in the art. Guides 16, 1'7, 18 and 19 fixed above the press box in any suitable manner serve to hold the ram in alignment with the press box in operation.

On each side, over'the press box, are bearings 5 21 supported from the lower guides 16. Pivotally mounted at 22 on'one side of the press box in one bearing 21 is a bell crank havinga forwardly extending supportinga'rm 23 and a rearwardly express box emtending arm 24 on which is mounteda roller .26. 119

The lower position of the forward extending arm 23 is limited by means of a set screw 25. I On the other side of the press box in the other bearing 21 is mounted a forwardly extending supporting arm 27. Connecting the supporting arms 23 and 27 is a hollow shaft 28 which is rigidly secured to the supporting arms. Rigidly secured to the shaft 28 near the ends thereof are two downwardly extending rods 29, while rigidly secured to the shaft 28 intermediate its ends is adownwardly extending sleeve 31. Telescoping over the endsof the rods 29 are sleeves 32 and extending upwardly into the sleeve 31 is an eye bolt 33.

Secured to the sleeves 32 and the eye bolt 33 isa feed paddle 34. As will beseen from the drawings, the paddle 34, due to the telescopic connection just described, may be lifted vertically from the position shown in Figure 2 until the sleeves 32 engage the shaft 28. The upper end of the eye bolt 33 is provided with a nut 36 which is adapted to be engaged by a spring pressed latch 37 pivote allymounted at 38 near the upper end of the sleeve 31, a recess 39 being provided in the upper end of the sleeve 31 whereby the latch may enter to engage the nut 36. The latch 3'? is provided with an outwardly extending finger 41 adapted to be engaged to release the latch, as will be hereafter described.

The lower end of the bolt 33 is' provided with an eye 42 which is connected by means of a pin 43 to angles 44 secured to the paddle 34. The lower end of the sleeve 31 is closed by means of a plug 46 and a spring 4'7 is interposed above the plug whereby to cushion the paddle when the latch 37 is released and the paddle is projected outwardly.

Pivotally mounted on the paddle 34, near the ends thereof are two dogs48 which are positioned to be engaged by arms 49 secured to the lower end of the ram 14 and extending forwardly as shown in Figure 2 of the drawings. These arms v49 engage the dogs 43 on the up stroke of the ram and lift the paddle 34 vertically out of the path of the cotton in the slide, and raise it until the latch 37 engages the nut 36v to momentarily hold the paddle in its raised position' On the down stroke of the ram, the arms49 depress the dogs 48 and no movement occurs.

Secured to the ram 14 are two guides 51 and 52- which cooperate with the roller'26 on the bell crank arm 24 to further raise the paddle 34 and project it outwardly into the'lint slide 12. As shown in Figure 2 of the drawings, and assummg the ram 14 is approaching the end of its up stroke,

the roller 26 is just entering into engagement with the guide 51. This guide 51 is curved so that as the ram 14 moves upwardly, engagement'with the roller 26, causes the bell crank to assume the dotted position shown in Figure 2.

Mounted on the upper guides 1'7 is a projecting finger 53 which lies in the path of the finger 41;

of the latch 37, asthe arm 23 lifts the paddle to the dotted position shown. in Figure 2. This releases the latch 37 and, as the movement is relatively 'fastyprojects the paddle outwardly and, due to its telescopic connection, it'enters the lint slide 12, following the trajectory shown by the dotted line 54 to engage the. cotton in the lint slide. I

As will be seen from Figure 2, the lower end of the guide 52 is also curved so that as the ram 14 begins its down stroke it forces the arm 23 downwardly and inwardly, with the paddle 34,-thereby sweeping the bat of cotton'in the lint'slide 12 into the press box 10. The upper-end of the'guide 52 is straight, as shown at 56, andextendsupwardly thus engaging the cotton in the lint slide 12.

, 12 until the next operative stroke of the paddle.

From the foregoing description, the operation of my improved feed mechanism should be readily understood. As shown in Figure 2, the ram 14 is on its down stroke tramping the cotton just swept in through the opening 11 into the press box 10.

.During the down stroke of theram, the roller 26 of the bell crank arm 24 is in engagement with the straight'portion 56 of the guide 52 holding the paddle 34 rigidly in front of the opening 11.

In the meantime, cotton from the condenser 13 is allowed to accumulate in front of the paddle 34 in the lint slide 12. As the ram 14 moves on its up stroke, and just as the follow block 57 passes the lower edge of the paddle, 34, the arms 49 engage the dogs 48 and raisethe paddle 34, due to itstelescopic connection with the shaft 28, until the latch 37 engages the nut 36 of the eye bolt 33, which momentarily latches the paddle in its upward position out of the way of the cotton in the slide 12. As the ram 14 continues its upward movement, the curved guide 51, coacting with the roller 26, causes the arm23 to raise, and w with it the shaft 28 and arm 27, until the arm 23 reaches the dotted position shown in Figure 2.

Before reaching the dotted position shown in Figure 2, the finger 41 of the latch'37 is engaged bythe finger 53 and the latch releases. As the movements of the arm 23 are relatively rapid, the paddle 34 is thrown outwardly by centrifugal force upon release of the latch 3'7, so as to follow the trajectory shown by the arrows 54 in Figure 2,

The ram 14 then again-begins its downward stroke, and the lowercurved end of the guide 52 bears against the roller 26 and forces the arm 23 downwardly, and with it the shaft 28 and paddle 34, to sweep the bat of cotton into the press box. As the ram 14 moves downwardly, the arms 49 engage the dogs 48 and press them downwardly so that no outward movement of the feed paddle34 occurs; 7

From the foregoing, it will be apparent I have, devised an improved feed mechanism for cotton tramper which is simple and sturdy of construction, reliable in operation, and which is effective to feed cotton into the press box evenly without any undue accumulation at any point in the press box.

While I have shown my invention in but'one form, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various changes and modifications, without depart- T ing fromthe spirit thereof,and I desire, therej 1. In a cotton tramper, a press box, a lintsli de for delivering-cotton thereto, a feed paddle for moving cotton from the slide into the press box, operating arms for the paddle, a telescoping connection between the paddle and the operating arms, means for raising the paddle vertically out that of the path of cotton in the lint slide, and means 1 for projecting the paddle outwardly to engage the cotton in the slide and sweep it toward the press box. r a

; Ina cotton'tramper, ai'press box, a, slide for delivering cotton thereto, a feed paddle for moving cotton from'the slide into' the press box, telescoping operating arms forthe paddle, means for raising the paddle vertically out of the path of cotton in thelint slide, meansfor extending the telescoping arms with the paddle outwardly to engage the cotton in the slide and sweep it toward the press box, and means to hold the paddle in position to be engaged and actuated by said means for raising it.

3. In a cotton tramper, a press box, a lint slide for delivering cotton thereto, a ram adapted to reciprocate in front of the lint slide, a feed paddle for moving cotton from the slide into the press box, an extensible operating means for the paddle, means on the ram for raising the paddle and moving it out of the path of the cotton in the lint slide, and means actuated by the ram for projecting the paddle outwardly to engage the cotton in the slide and'sweep it into the press box.

4. In a cotton tramper, a press box, a lint slide for delivering cotton thereto, a ram adapted to reciprocate in front of the lint slide, a feed paddle for moving cotton from the slide into the press box, an extensible operating means for the paddle,

means on the paddle adapted to be engaged on the upstroke of the ram to raise the paddle out of the path of the cotton in the slide, means for momentarily latching the paddle in its raised position, and means to release and project the paddle outwardly to engage the cotton in the slide and feed it into the press box.

5. In a cotton tramper, a press box, a lint slide for delivering cotton thereto, a ram adapted to reciprocate in front of the lint slide, a feed paddle for moving cotton from the slide into the press b x, an extensible operating means for the V paddle, means on the paddle adapted to be engaged on the upstroke of the ram to raise the paddle out of the path of the cotton in the slide, means for momentarily latching the paddle in its raised position, means to release and project the paddle outwardly to engage the cotton in the slide and feed it into the press box, and means to stop the paddle against moving into the path of the ram.

6. In a cotton tramper, a press box, a lint slide for delivering cotton thereto, a lever pivotally supported above the press box and having one arm extending forwardly to overhang the end of the lint slide, a feed paddle for moving cotton from the slide intothe press box, a telescoping connection between the paddle and the forwardly extending arm of the lever, a ram adapted to reciprocate in the press box in front of the lint slide, a dog on the paddle adapted to be engaged by the ram to raise the paddle vertically on the up stroke of the ram and means on the ram to engage the lever and throw the paddle outwardly into the lint slide and feed the cotton therein into the press box.

v '7. In a cotton tramper, a pressbox, a lint slide for delivering cotton thereto, a lever pivotally supopening in the side thereof, an inclined lint slide leading to the 'op eningyand arecipro-f cating ram'in front of the tramper opening; of a feed paddle mounted'for sweeping cotton into the opening, means operable on the upstroke'of the ram for raising the paddle vertically in front'of the opening, means actuated by the ram for projecting the paddle outwardly into the lint slide, means for forcing the paddle inwardly toward the opening, and means for holdingv it in front of the opening when the ram ismaking its down stroke.

I 9. The combination with a cotton press box having an opening in the side thereof, an inclined lint slide leading to the opening, and a ram adapted to reciprocate inthe press box in front of. the opening; of a bell crank pivotally mounted above the press box and having an arm extending forwardly to overhang the opening therein, a feed paddle telescopingly connected to the arms. dog on the paddle adapted to be engaged by the ram on its up stroke to telescope the paddle connection and to raise the paddle vertically in the lint slide, means on the ram to engage the bell crank when the paddle is in its telescoped position and project the paddle outwardly into the lintslide,

and other means on the ram to engage the bell crank and force. the paddle inwardly toward the opening in the press box.

10. The combination with a cotton press box having an opening in the side thereof, an inclined lint slide leading to the opening, and a ram adapted to reciprocate in the press box in front of the opening; of a bell crank pivotally mounted above the press box and having an arm extending forwardly to overhang the opening therein, ,a feed paddle telescopingly connected to the arm, a dog on the paddle adapted to be engaged by the ram on its up stroke to raisethe paddle vertically in the lint slide, means on the ram to engage the bell crank when the paddle is in its telescoped position and project the paddle outwardly into the lint slide, other means on the ram to engage the bell crank and force the paddle inwardly toward the opening in the press box, and means on the ram to hold the paddle against the press box during the down stroke of the ram.

11. The combination with a cotton press box 7 having an opening in the side thereof, an inclined lint slide leading tothe opening, and a ram adapted to reciprocate in thepress box in front of the opening; of a bell crank pivotally mounted above the press box and having an arm extending forwardly to overhang the opening therein, a feed paddle telescopingly connected to the arm, a dog on the paddle adapted to be engaged by the ram on its up stroke to telescope the paddle connection and to raise the paddle vertically in the lint slide, means to momentarily latch the paddle in its raised position, means on the ram to engage the bell crank when the paddle is in its raised position and effect disengagement of the latch and project'the paddle outwardly into the lint slide, and other means on the ram to engage the bell crank and force the paddle inwardly toward the opening in the press box. 12. The combination with a cotton press box having an opening in the side thereof, an in- ,clined lint slide leading to the opening, and a ram adapted to reciprocate in the press box in front of the opening; of a bell crank pivotally mounted above the press box and having an arm extending forwardly to overhang the opening therein, a feed paddle telescopingly connected to the arm, adog on the paddle adapted to be en- 1 50 gaged by the ram on its up stroke to telescope the paddle connection and to raise the paddle vertically in the lint slide, means to momentarily latch' thepaddle in its raised position, means on the ram to engage the bell crank when the paddle is in its raised position and efie'ct disengagement of the latch and project the paddle outwardly e av zi t 

